by Elie Hutcheson

Created on: July 09, 2011   Last Updated: August 06, 2011

Lila knew everything about music, that's why she taught it.

"What's her name?" Lila asked of the young girl's mother. The girl who stood before her seemed to be four or five with blond hair and chestnut eyes.  

"Jasmine" the mother replied.

"Do you mind if I ask why the flute?"

"Her father used to play it." was the mother's quick reply.

Lila brought the child into her parlor and sat her down. It was her job to teach and she meant to do a good job of it.

Jasmine immediately took hold of her instrument and positioned herself as if ready to begin playing. Lila looked at the girl for a moment before she said.

"How many lessons have you had?"

"None" the girl replied.

"Okay," Lila thought, "Perhaps she saw her father hold it."

Then, without warning, Jasmine began playing a complicated classical piece to perfection.

"Is this some kind of a joke?" Lila demanded of the mother later. "This girl has obviously had all the lessons she could ever need." 

The mother broke down in tears and confessed that she knew Jasmine could play.

"I just wanted to hear you say it. To make sure it wasn't in my head." she sobbed. "You see, like I said Jasmine's father used to play. He played for us every night before he was deployed. Jasmine was only an infant. She doesn't know her father, she never will. I got word last week that he was killed in action. That night Jasmine took his flute and began playing it. I swear she's never had lessons. She played just like that the very first time. The song she's been playing, that was the very one. The one he used to soothe me when I was upset or frustrated about something. I thought it might just be my mind playing tricks on me. I knew that a professional would know, so I signed her up for lessons. I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I'll pay you double if you wish."

Lila's face softened. "Of course not," she soothed, her anger gone now. Lila pondered the mystery as she saw the would be pupil and her grief stricken mother to the door. Perhaps she didn't know everything there was to know about music after all.

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